On polling day, Thursday 2 May, elections will be held to elect councillors, with one seat up for election in each ward. There will also be elections for a Mayor for the West Midlands Combined Authority and for a Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands Police area on the same day.
Every registered voter has received 2 poll cards for this year’s May elections – one covering local and West Midlands Combined Authority Mayoral elections, and one for the Police and Crime Commissioner elections taking place. There are 2 poll cards due to delays caused by a court case against the Home Office regarding the Police and Crime Commissioner election; when the final result of the case came through, the poll cards for the local and WMCA elections were already being printed.
The deadline to register to vote is Tuesday 16 April and residents who still need to do so should go to Register to vote.
On election day, voters are asked to bring acceptable photo ID with them. Details on what forms of ID are accepted at Voter ID.
Anyone who does not have an acceptable form of photo ID can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) by Wednesday 24 April. The easiest way to apply is online at Apply for photo ID to vote (called a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Details of VAC drop-in sessions in Wolverhampton for those who need help with applications can be found at Voter ID.
Any resident who may not be able to return their postal vote in advance may hand it in at any polling station in their Ward on election day before 10pm.
Please note that as a result of changes in the law, residents will be only able to hand in their own postal vote, and the postal votes of up to 5 other people, at a polling station or to your local council.
The changes in the law also mean that a form must also be completed with name, address, how many postal votes are being handed in and why those postal votes – the Council is encouraging voters to post their votes in advance of polling day if at all possible.
Tim Johnson, Electoral Registration Officer for the City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “Don’t lose your chance to have your say at elections in May. Local elections are an important opportunity to have your say on who represents you and makes decisions about issues that directly affect day-to-day life here in Wolverhampton.”
